Docks, boat lifts and seawalls in Key Largo
Docks, lifts and seawalls built for Keys water and Keys rules.
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In Key Largo, shallow water, seagrass and the National Marine Sanctuary shape every dock and lift. We plan the design and permits around them.
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- Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys
The short answer
In Key Largo, Monroe County limits dock length under County Code section 118-12(m)(15), and a longer dock needs a Dock Length Special Exception with a $1,450 application fee plus $3 per shoreline owner within 300 ft (Monroe County, 2026). Projects inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary also need the Sanctuary's prior approval.
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What makes Key Largo different
The special exception application asks owners to describe the submerged lands the dock crosses, such as sand, seagrass or coral, and the minimum extra length needed to reach adequate water depth. The site plan must be prepared by a Florida registered architect, engineer or landscape architect and show the mean high water line and shoreline setbacks.[1]
Sanctuary, seagrass and manatees
Projects inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary needed prior Sanctuary approval under SPGP VI. The same permit let boat lifts and minor structures in Monroe County go into existing boat slips without a seagrass survey. All in-water work follows the state manatee conditions.[2][3]
Areas we cover around Key Largo
- North Key Largo
- Blackwater Sound
- Florida Bay side
- Atlantic side canals
Who issues permits in Key Largo
- Monroe County Planning and Environmental Resources Department: Dock length special exceptions under County Code section 118-12(m)(15).
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: The Sanctuary starts at mean high water, so Key Largo canal and bay work is inside it; SPGP VI required its prior approval.
- Florida DEP or South Florida Water Management District: State permit or exemption, which Monroe County needs to see before it issues a Notice to Proceed for docks, seawalls and ramps.
- US Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District: Federal permit, also required before the County's Notice to Proceed.
Services in Key Largo
Seawalls in Key Largo
Seawall repair, replacement, new caps, raising, riprap toe protection and inspections.
Docks in Key Largo
New docks, dock repair, floating docks, pilings and composite decking.
Boat lifts in Key Largo
Boat lift installation, repair, motors and cables, jet ski lifts and servicing.
Marine construction in Key Largo
Pile driving, bulkheads, boat davits and living shorelines.
Flood protection in Key Largo
Flood barriers and panels for doors and garages, and flood vents.
Frequently asked questions
How long can my dock be in Key Largo?
Monroe County limits dock length under section 118-12(m)(15) of the County Code. A longer dock needs a Dock Length Special Exception, which costs $1,450 plus $3 per shoreline owner within 300 ft.
Do I need a seagrass survey for a boat lift in Key Largo?
Under SPGP VI, a boat lift going into an existing slip in Monroe County did not need a seagrass survey. New slips and docks over seagrass are reviewed in more detail.
Is Key Largo in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary?
The Sanctuary surrounds the Keys, and projects inside it need the Sanctuary's prior approval. We confirm whether your shoreline is inside it during design.
Sources
- Dock Length Special Exception Application (Last revised August 2026), Monroe County Planning and Environmental Resources Department. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Department of the Army State Programmatic General Permit VI (SPGP VI), SAJ-2015-2575, State of Florida, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (document hosted by Florida DEP). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Standard Manatee Conditions for In-Water Work (2011), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Monroe County Land Development Code, Sec. 118-12 Shoreline Setback, subsections (k) Bulkheads, seawalls and riprap and (m) Docking facilities (third-party code copy), Monroe County, Florida (text reproduced by Zoneomics; the official Municode copy blocked automated access). Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Community Rating System (CRS), Monroe County, Florida. Accessed October 28, 2026.
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